Whew what a day it has been today. Delivery of the long arm (Innova 26") came at noon today. We got all the 10 ft pieces for the rack in through the window because the back room it is in has a sharp turn to get into and no way would those poles go so in through the upstairs window. But it was very easy. Then I left the dealer to do his job and put it all together for me. Then came additional training, wow you have to futz with tension so much on these things! I think until I get a lot more practice under my belt I will run the same weight thread in the bobbin as I have in the top because trying to get the tension right of So Fine thread in the bobbin with a 40 wt thread in the top was really too much futzing about for my taste. We never did get it right. So now I practice, practice and practice. I will post pictures in a few days of it. I already know I need to get better lighting in that back room and now in addition to a fabric fetish I can add thread to the mix. I spent another $100 today just on thread and a couple of templates. At $10 to $20 a spool it wasn't difficult! I got two spools of King tut, one of So Fine, 2 of YLI and 2 of Isocord (I think that was the name) which is beautiful thread with such a lovely sheen to it. I have a lot more to learn about thread now.

Congratulations!

Congratulations!
You'll have soooo much fun!

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :thumbup:

Congrats have fun!!!!!!!!!

Congratulation! Very happy for you.

Congrats!

I am JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!! Congrats!

Whoo Hoo! A big congrats!! Have fun!

Awesome! You are going to love love love it!

I use King Tut in top and So Fine in the bobbin almost all the time!

We will be waiting for pictures!!

have fun,

Maybe I will have to come visit you and see how you adjust your tension for that! I am pretty close to MA and nowhere in the state is much more then 3 hours away for me. The bobbin thread kept getting pulled to the top. So high bobbin tension low top tension to fix??

I am so jealous! But, I'm happy for you.

Yea, happy for you!!!! I want to come visit:)

Congratulations! :D:D:D

WOW congratulations. There is a learning curve for sure.

I am very happy for you. Keep us posted on your progress and your first quilt.
doglover

sent you a PM or 2 or 3 :lol:

WOO HOO Congrats ! And be sure to post pics of your practice :thumbup:

Enjoy!!!

Have fun!

Congrats on your new baby! Enjoy an don't forget the pics.

I am so happy for you. Congrats on your new baby. Have fun.

Congratulations! I am jealous too!!!

Don't let the "strangeness" of working with a new machine frustrate you. I'm always a bit uncomfortable with learning how to use something when I first get it. I want to be able to do it all right away. Give yourself the gift of patience! Good luck to you...and congratulations.

:thumbup:

Remember, PPP (practice, practice, practice). I'm still learning and practicing. You can practice on ebay quilt tops, draw your squares on muslin and practice the blocks, and also buy cheater cloth and practice on those. I know you will have lots of fun. I believe my most important purchase was the Towa gauge in order to get correct tension on my bobbins. Since then, I do pretty well. I also keep a scrap sandwich piece to try any time I change threads. Anyway, many congratulations. I know you will enjoy.

Oh congratulations. It's like a love affair when you first get it--can't stay away. miss it when you're gone for one day, worry about it. I quilted 50 quilts for Project Linus in the first 2 months I had my longarm.

Regarding tension-- oh yes, they take a lot of fiddling and futzing. Try doing some practice with Isacord cotton thread in both top and bobbin. I find it a very beautiful thread that quilts easily.

Have fun. Breathe. Remember you are pretty new to this and just enjoy the learning. Practice. There are great books and DVDs. I don't know whether you have used a longarm at a shop or if you are really a novice, but if you're interested in learning tools, let me know and I'll send you a list.

Good luck to you. Wish I had the space.

Congrats & enjoy playing with your new toy!!